Jimmy Graham (80) prepares to catch a pass on the sideline from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees during training camp Friday.

Written by

Jim Corbett
USA Today Sports

All of those months of uncertainty during his franchise tag dispute with the New Orleans Saints weighed heavily on Jimmy Graham, bothering him a ton more than the pink floral décor of his Greenbrier Resort hotel room, which he complained about upon his arrival Wednesday at training camp.

The constant stress reached the point that Graham needed to vent to someone.

And thanks to the calming influence of former Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Graham was able to keep his cool throughout the saga that ended with Graham becoming the league's highest-paid tight end - after an arbitrator ruled ...